Samsung scooped 94.7 per cent of the global Android smartphone-generated profit during the first quarter, beating the likes of LG and Google itself.
According to research firm Strategy Analytics, Android devices generated US$5.1 billion in Q1. LG came in second behind Samsung with a 2.5 per cent share.
“We believe Samsung generates more revenue and profit from the Android platform than Google does,” said executive director Neil Mawston.
The report points to an efficient supply chain, sleek products and crisp marketing as the main drivers of the phonemaker’s impressive returns.
Mawston said he feels Samsung may in future be an even bigger player on the platform, perhaps even influencing the product’s direction.
“For example, Samsung could request first or exclusive updates of new software from Android before rival hardware vendors,” he said.
The researcher however says Samsung’s dominance of the sector in terms of volumes is not reflected in the markets overall earnings, which it called modest.
